As president of the student council at Bowie Elementary, Raul Flores is learning about democracy, how to represent his peers, and what qualities make a good leader.
He recently joined students from all over the Rio Grande Valley in the multi-district Leaders ‘R’ Us Student Council Workshop that took place October 17 at Zavala Elementary.
“We played a game in the beginning so we could meet new people,” said Raul. “If you want to be a leader, you have to be friendly and be able to meet new people.”
Using methods he learned at the workshop, he will help students feel welcome at his school, and further encourage others to take a stand against bullying.
“I don’t like to see anybody being picked on,” said Raul. “I don’t like bullying. Last Wednesday the entire school wore orange shirts to show that Bowie is a no-bullying zone.”
He knows that a quality of being a good leader is to serve others, so he contributes to his school by participating in the safety patrol. He assists in making sure that everyone follows the rules in the halls in addition to his duties of raising and lowering the flag each school day.
Raul takes pride in helping others because he recognizes that at times, he has needed help as well.
“I had a hard time reading in first grade, so I would go to HOSTS (Helping One Student to Succeed). Mrs. Hayward would always help me. Now, in reading, I get 90s and 100s. At HOSTS, mentors come and sit down with students to help them read.”
Already an adept young man, Raul, is also involved in his campus’ chess team, UIL, and kid’s ministry choir at his local church. One day he hopes to become a U.S. Marine or the President of the United States.